HYDERABAD: As different hues and patterns adorn the wall of the gallery, our very own Hyderabad based artist, Sreekanth Kurva, gets talking about his offbeat career choice, his fascination with animals and his journey so far. Currently working as a freelance artist, Kurva, 48, who specialised himself in printmaking from M.S. University, Baroda – has now become an expert in watercolor, paper and textile collage. His undying passion for trying something new inspired him to work on sculptures which were showcased in a recent art exhibition at Tulika Art Gallery. His works are not culture specific and have a universal appeal with a touch of ethnicity.
What inspired you to take up Fine Arts as a profession?
My father has been a constant motivation for me. In those days, taking up Fine Arts was a challenge and being from a humble background, it proved to be extremely challenging as there were constant financial restraints. But my father, who was a poet by profession, knew how passionate I was about painting and supported me throughout.
Most of your artwork revolves around cows and bulls, could you tell us a little more about that?
I grew up in Begum Bazar and every morning when I walked to get the morning milk, I used to observe the cows sitting under the shade of the tree. Their mannerisms intrigued me, from carefree to fierce to mild. I would sit for hours studying them. Deccani goats, roosters, rabbits and fishes would also catch my attention. It made me feel close to nature and therefore most of my paintings and sculptures are re-creations of these using different techniques and colours.
How has the journey been so far in this field?
My journey started from The College of Fine Arts, JNTU in Hyderabad in 1994. Then I pursued my masters from Baroda where I specialized in lithography (print making). These were my foundation years. In 1997, I joined the department of graphics at PST University, Hyderabad as a faculty member. During these years, I was working on a unique style of collage using textile, which was showcased at the KalaGhoda festival in Mumbai. This gave me huge recognition and I won a National Scholarship from the Government of India. Though there were many hurdles, I went on experimenting and in 2005, my work was displayed at the Shrushti Art Gallery and I was awarded by the Lalitha Kala Samiti, Andhra Pradesh. These were constant confidence boosters along with my parents’ encouragement. Now after 30 years, I can look back and say that I had an eventful journey.
Tell us more about your unique technique?
Previously I only worked with lithography, a form which was only found in Hyderabad. It is a time consuming process which includes polishing lime stone -- immersing it in distilled water and nitric acid and then deeply etching on it to create intricate designs. I have used this technique to give fine detailing on the sculptures of the bull. Later I experimented with collage using Kacch cloth, dyed textile and paper to create something new. Experimenting with the trending fashion always gets me going and therefore I have incorporated different techniques in my artwork.
What challenges do you face?
Financial challenges always pose a constraint as the equipment used in artwork is expensive and it’s not a stable profession. Also, language was a hindrance for me as my communication skills were not that sharp. Everything seemed like a burden but overcoming all these obstacles and fulfilling my dream gives me a sense of satisfaction at the end of the day and keeps my passion alive.